Breaking News... AKP's Güler on 'trustee' appointments: 'You call it a "trustee," but the legal definition says otherwise'

Mardin Metropolitan Municipality, Batman Municipality, and Halfeti Municipality had trustees appointed to them this morning.

The first statement from the AKP regarding the appointment of trustees to the 3 municipalities has arrived.

AKP Group Deputy Chairman Abdullah Güler, in a press conference, stated that legal processes are ongoing and used the following expressions:

"Within the practices of a state of law, these will be appreciated as such. Mayoral offices are not areas of freedom where anyone can commit crimes.

'YOU CALL IT A TRUSTEE, BUT THE LAW DOES NOT SAY SO'

"The relevant mayors have been sentenced: 10 years for the Mardin mayor, over 6 years for the Batman mayor, and 6 years or more for the Halfeti mayor. These are subject to the appellate process. The situations have been evaluated within the Municipal Law, and the Ministry of Interior has made this assignment for a temporary period. In the necessary appellate process, these may be finalized or they may be acquitted. These practices existed in the past as well. Mayoral offices are not areas of freedom where anyone can commit crimes. If a situation is subject to investigation, the necessary application will be made. You call it a 'trustee,' but the legal definition says otherwise.

Turkey is a constitutional state of law. Therefore, within the scope of Article 127 of our Constitution, an assignment has been made for a temporary period to replace the three current mayors in question."